Document handling apparatus

ABSTRACT

Document transporting apparatus for use in post office mail scanning equipment, including vacuum-operated means for separating doubled documents and a light source and cooperative photo-responsive means for sensing the presence of folded documents, to prevent interference with functioning of the transporting equipment or damage to the documents. The light source and photo-responsive means define an optical axis so disposed that a document, having folded portions which are not secured in face-to-face relation and which might interfere with proper functioning, interrupts the light and energizes means for preventing interference or damage.

[ Mar. 12, 1974 United States Patent [1 1 Fox [ DOCUMENT HANDLING APPARATUS [75] Inventor: Ralph W. Fox, Blue Bell, Pa. [73] Assignee: Philco-Ford Corporation, Blue Bell,

[22] Filed: Apr. 9, 1973 [2]] Appl. No.: 349,410

[52] US. Cl 271/1, 271/57, 271/74 [51] Int. Cl. R65h 5/00 [58] Field of Search 209/111]; 271/1, 74, 57

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,108,801 l0/l963 Van Dalen 271/57 3,150,873. 9/1964 MacGregor. 271/57 Primary Examiner-Allen N. Knowles Attorn j jqgeiit, 0r Firm-Robert D. Sanborn; Carl H.

Synnestvedt [5 7] ABSTRACT 9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures DOCUMENT HANDLING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the processing of certain documents to be read, particularly letter mail to be scanned as to address, it is imperative that the letters be fed one-by-one to the scanning equipment. This requirement imposes the corollary requirement that doubles, that is one letter superimposed on another, be eliminated. It is known in the art to overcome the doubles problem in a variety of ways including the use of so-called singulators, which may be of the vacuum type. In a vacuum singulator, a pair of folded conveyer, or transfer, belts are placed face-to-face with a vacuum manifold disposed behind each. The entrance width to the spaced belts is such that, at the most, two letter thicknesses may be accommodated. If doubled letters are translated in the direction of belt motion, a vacuum manifold associated with each of the belts draws to the belt the letter closest to that belt. In such an arrangement, it is known to cause letters on one belt to be translated to a reject bin and letters on the opposite belt to be fed directly to the read station, for scanning.

While apparatus of this kind has been developed which is capable of satisfactory elimination of doubles, an additional difficulty has been encountered due to the fact that certain types of documents sent through the mail, for example advertising material, are merely folded, with the intention that the free edges be stapled together or secured with a gummed label. At times, however, the folded portions of such documents are not properly secured in face-to-face relation. When mail of the latter type is encountered, as frequently occurs when advertisements are mixed with conventional letter mail, the vacuum doubles remover may be the source of considerable problems. As folded documents (folders) are transported along the confronting vacuumized belts, one side of the folded material may attach itself to one belt while the other side becomes attached to the other belt. When the folded material reaches the point at which rejects are to be separated from mail to be read, each belt tends to hold its portion of the material, and possible interference with normal functioning of the transport mechanism may result, or damage to the mail.

- SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION My invention has as its general objective the elimination of the folder problem, by providing a novel control system which senses the presence of folded documents and initiates operation of means for preventing interference or damage. For this purpose, the invention provides a light source and photo-responsive means, for example a photocell, which source and means define an optical axis extending between the belts and transverse the direction of belt travel. This apparatus detects letters or documents having folded edges which are not properly secured, and which provide a bight portion in the direction of belt travel. Such a bight portion interrupts the light passing from the source to the cell and energizes means for preventing interference or damage. In simplest form, illustrated by way of example only, interruption of the light beam serves to stop the mechanism and enables the operator to remove the folded material. However, as will be understood, the photo-responsive means may, if desired, either energize a pressure jet, and thereby reclose the folder, or terminate the vacuum to one of the two belts, thereby allowing the opposite belt to control the folded document.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the accompanying drawing:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of letter handling apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 applied to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and illustrating the manner in which a folder" acts to interrupt the light beam;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and,

FIG. 5 isa simplified circuit diagram showing apparatus for sensing the photocell current and controlling the current which energizes the belt drive motor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT First with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated, somewhat diagrammatically, apparatus for transporting documents, such as letters, along a path leading to a read station- (not illustrated) which would include a viewer adapted to read data, such as addresses carried by the letters. A pair of endless belt systems l0 and 11 are disposed with adjacent runs of belting, shown, respectively, at a and 11a, disposed in spaced face-to-face relation. Any suitable arrangement of pulleys may be used to support the belts, for example the pulleys shown at 12 and 13. These pulleys are mounted for rotation on axles which extend generally vertically from a base sheet 14. A suitable. motor 15 together with drive belting l6 and 17, serves to cause the adjacent runs of belting 10a and 11a to be translated in the same direction, that is toward the right as viewed in FIG. 1. Letters are fed to the space between the belt systems by a feed and support device shown at 18 which may include a solenoid device 19 for vibrating the moving letters. As letters pass from the stack, for example the letter shown at L, they are guided by fingers 20-20 until they arrive upon the surface of a third belt system 21, driven from the belt 10. The third belt comprises a letter feed system and delivers the letters to the space between the belt runs 10a and 11a, as will be apparent from consideration of FIG. 1.

The vacuum system discussed above includes three manifolds 22, 23 and 24 each of which communicates with a motor-driven vacuum pump 25 through the agency of conduits shown at 26, 27 and 28. These man ifolds, which are of a type known in the art, are box-like in form with the side disposed adjacent to the con fronting belt being apertured to draw the belt toward the manifold. In effect, the adjacent belt serves to close the manifold. For example belt run 10a closes manifold 22. The same is the case with respect to the belts 11a and 21 which serve to close the vacuum manifolds 23 and 24 disposed adjacent thereto. The vacuum manifold 22 extends leftward, as viewed in FIG. 1, into close adjacency to the pulley 12. This is in contrast to the manifold 23, the left end of which (23a) is spaced a considerable distance from the pulley 13. The result is that letters delivered from the feed belt 21 to the space between the belt runs 10a and 11a are first pulled toward and into contact with belt run 10a, this being the run to which the letters must adhere in order to be transported to the read station, which is not illustrated.

It should be understood that, in accordance with known practice, the belts are perforated in order that the reduced pressure present in the manifold may be communicated to letters passing through the system. While the detailed construction of the belts is not illustrated in the drawing, since it is not per se part of the present invention, it should be recognized that spaced regions of each belt are perforated, with interposed regions lacking perforation. This results in spacing of the letters along the belt, as is apparent from the spacing of letters shown at L,, L and L Representative perforations appear at P in FIGS. 2 and 4.

The letters shown at L L and L are positioned properly to pass freely through the equipment to the read station. As will now be understood, occasionally doubled documents are fed into the system, for example the superimposed letter shown at L, and L in FIG. 1. Apparatus for preventing this from causing problems is generally known. Specifically, in this instance, the problems which result from allowing doubled documents to be transported further in the system are prevented in the following manner. The belt loop 11 has its right-hand portion angled downwardly so that it presents a run of belt 1 1b which diverges from the overlying belt run a. Letters which may not have adhered properly to belt run 10a become adhered to portions 11a and 1 lb of belt 1 1 and are discarded to any suitable stacking device, or receptacle, provided for collecting these letters. Such collection apparatus is represented diagrammaticallyin the drawing by the rectangle labeled Rejects.

As appears to best advantage in FIGS. 2 and 4, and in particular accordance with this invention, the apparatus includes photo-responsive means for sensing the presence 'of folded documents. For this purpose a light source 29 is arranged to project light through an aperture in the base sheet l4 and across the space between the adjacent belt runs 10a and 11a, toward a photoresponsive device, for example the photocell shown at 30. The source and cell define an optical axis shown at 31. It will be observed that this axis extends transversly of the direction of belt travel. Each folded piece of mail delivered to the apparatus, includes a bight portion, which is shown at 32 in FIGS. 3 and 4. This bight portion commonly extends in the direction of the major axis of the document or letter. If the folded parts (32a and 32b) of the letter which are connected by the bight portion 32 are spread, as clearly appears in FIG. 4, rather than being secured in face-to-face relation, the document can be damaged if it is permitted to pass through the machine in this condition. It is also possible that unillustrated portions of the apparatus subsequent to the belt runs 100 and 11a may be interfered with.

Commonly mail is introduced to the system in such a way that its major axis extends in the direction of belt travel. The result is that the bight portion usually extends in the same direction. Any bight portion which has extension in such direction, that is, in the direction of belt travel, interrupts the light passing along the optical axis 31 and prevents it from arriving at the photocell 30; all of which will be understood from inspection of FIG. 4. Even in the unlikely event that the bight portion extends transverse the direction of belt travel, no

problem will be presented if that portion is at the leading portion of the mail piece.

The invention includes means responsive to interruption of the light falling on the photocell 30, to institute remedial action. For very simple apparatus, which this disclosure illustrates by way of example, interruption of the light beam serves to stop the belt drive and enable the operator to remove the letter. For example, when a folded letter, presenting a bight portion 32 extending in the direction of belt travel, reaches the position shown in FIG. 3, its bight portion 32 prevents light from arriving at the photocell 30. In this position the machine will be stopped and the letter can be removed. FIG. 5 shows an exemplary circuit for sensing the current of photocell 30 and utilizing the interruption of such current, at a switching device 34, to control the current which energizes the belt drive motor 15.

While means for interrupting the belt drive has been illustrated and described, it should be understood that other apparatus may be employed to prevent damage resulting from folded letters. For example, and as indicated earlier in this description, the photocell may be used to energize a pressure jet (not shown) to close the folder, or to terminate the vacuum to one of the manifolds 22 or 23, thereby allowing the opposite manifold and its associated belt to control the folded document and carry it through the machine, or to a place of disposal.

I claim:

1. In document transporting apparatus for feeding documents along a path, for the purpose of reading data carried by the documents, and including means for sensing the presence of folded documents, which may interfer with proper functioning of the transporting apparatus or result in damage to the folded documents: a pair of moving belts lying in said path in face-to-face spaced relation and between which documents are fed during normal operation of the apparatus; means associated with said belts for establishing reduced atmospheric pressure adjacent each belt, whereby documents contacting either belt are held thereagainst; and a light source and cooperative photo-responsive means defining an optical axis extending through the space between said belts, said source and photo-responsive means being so constructed and disposed that the optical axis defined thereby extends transverse the direction of belt travel, whereby a document having folded portions which are not secured in face-to-face relation and which present a bight portion extending in the direction of belt travel, interrupts the light passing from said source to said photo-responsive means.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, and further including means responsive to such interruption to prevent interference or damage' 3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, and further including switching means responsive to such interrup tions to energize instrumentalities for preventing such interference or damage.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, and further including means responsive to such interruption to stop the transport of documents along said path.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4, and further characterized in that said last means comprises means for sensing current at said photo-responsive means, and a switching device responsive to variations in such current to terminate operation of the transporting apparatus.

6. ln document transporting apparatus for feeding documents along a path for the purpose of reading data carried by the documents; a pair of belts at least partially defining said path and disposed in face-to-face relation and spaced to ccommodate passage of documents therebetween during normal operation of the apparatus; means associated with said belts for establishing reduced atmospheric pressure adjacent to each belt, whereby documents contacting each belt are held thereagainst, said means including diverging belt sec tions effective to separate doubled documents passing through the transporting apparatus; a light source and cooperative photo-responsive means defining an optical axis extending through the space between said belts, said source and photo-responsive means being so constructed and disposed that the optical axis defined thereby extends transverse the direction of belt travel, whereby a document having folded portions which are not secured in face-to-face relation, and which provide a bight portion extending in the direction of belt travel, interrupts the light passing from said source to said photo-responsive means; and means responsive to such interruption to prevent damage to documents having such folded portions.

7. Document transporting apparatus, including: a pair of moving belts disposed in face-to-face spaced relation and defining at least a portion of a path between which documents are fed one-by-one during normal operation of the apparatus; means including vacuum manifolds associated with said belts for separating dou bled documents, and removing one thereof from said path; and a light source and photo-responsive means for sensing the presence of folded documents in said path, said source and means defining an optical axis and being effective to sense the presence of folded documents in response to positioning of a portion of a folded document across said axis and consequent interruption of the passage of light along said axis.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 7, and in which said optical axis extends between said belts and in a direction transverse the direction of belt movement.

9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 8, and further including means responsive to such interruption to prevent damage to folded documents. =l= 

1. In document transporting apparatus for feeding documents along a path, for the purpose of reading data carried by the documents, and including means for sensing the presence of folded documents, which may interfer with proper functioning of the transporting apparatus or result in damage to the folded documents: a pair of moving belts lying in said path in face-toface spaced relation and between which documents are fed during normal operation of the apparatus; means associated with said belts for establishing reduced atmospheric pressure adjacent each belt, whereby documents contacting either belt are held thereagainst; and a light source and cooperative photo-responsive means defining an optical axis extending through the space between said belts, said source and photo-responsive means being so constructed and disposed that the optical axis defined thereby extends transverse the direction of belt travel, whereby a document having folded portions which are not secured in face-toface relation and which present a bight portion extending in the direction of belt travel, interrupts the light passing from said source to said photo-responsive means.
 2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, and further including means responsive to such interruption to prevent interference or damage.
 3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, and further including switching means responsive to such interruptions to energize instrumentalities for preventing such interference or damage.
 4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, and further including means responsive to such interruption to stop the transport of documents along said path.
 5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 4, and further characterized in that said last means comprises means for sensing current at said photo-responsive means, and a switching device responsive to variations in such current to terminate operation of the transporting apparatus.
 6. In document transporting apparatus for feeding documents along a path for the purpose of reading data carried by the documents; a pair of belts at least partially defining said path and disposed in face-to-face relation and spaced to ccommodate passage of documents therebetween during normal operation of the apparatus; means associated with said belts for establishing reduced atmospheric pressure adjacent to each belt, whereby documents contacting each belt are held thereagainst, said means including diverging belt sections effective to separate doubled documents passing through the transporting apparatus; a light source and cooperative photo-responsive means defining an optical axis extending through the space between said belts, said source and photo-responsive means being so constructed and disposed that the optical axis defined thereby extends transverse the direction of belt travel, whereby a document having folded portions which are not secured in face-to-face relation, and which provide a bight portion extending in the direction of belt travel, interrupts the light passing from said source to said photo-responsive means; and means responsive to suCh interruption to prevent damage to documents having such folded portions.
 7. Document transporting apparatus, including: a pair of moving belts disposed in face-to-face spaced relation and defining at least a portion of a path between which documents are fed one-by-one during normal operation of the apparatus; means including vacuum manifolds associated with said belts for separating doubled documents, and removing one thereof from said path; and a light source and photo-responsive means for sensing the presence of folded documents in said path, said source and means defining an optical axis and being effective to sense the presence of folded documents in response to positioning of a portion of a folded document across said axis and consequent interruption of the passage of light along said axis.
 8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 7, and in which said optical axis extends between said belts and in a direction transverse the direction of belt movement.
 9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 8, and further including means responsive to such interruption to prevent damage to folded documents. 